The Economics of Buddhism
(Buddhist Advice) The 4 Benefits in the Present That the Buddha Taught More Than 2,500 Years Ago
Understand Business: A Famous Businessman Explains the 4 Benefits That You Learn and Practice to Become Rich.
Mr. Ieng Sotheara, a famous businessman in Cambodia, explained the 4 benefits that you learn and practice to become rich to avoid poverty. On the occasion of participating as a guest speaker in the campaign for business owners to help each other in difficult times under the theme “The Benefits of Becoming Rich” via the online system, Mr. Ieng Sotheara explained the 4 Benefits in the Present, the economics for today’s life. He stated that the 4 benefits to becoming rich are:
1: The Endowment Of Industriousness: Not being lazy, working hard, and striving. For example: If there is a family, both husband and wife must work hard and guide their children to work hard. When all the wealth, food, and clothing are created in a proper manner and the efforts are continuously built up, the second endowment is the endowment of watchfulness.
2: The Endowment Of Watchfulness (Protecting Wealth): Protecting wealth and saving the wealth that has been earned well. Protecting wealth well requires doing five things: (1) Protecting it from confiscation by the authorities, which may occur due to wrongdoing, (2) Always looking after everything carefully, (3) Taking care of natural disasters, (4) Protecting it from thieves, (5) Beware of those who want to destroy us. Taking care to manage wealth carefully so that it does not get wasted is a very good deed, but we should try to do this continuously and practice the third endowment, which is the endowment of friends.
3: Good friends: are good people for us and help us, give us good advice. But please remember: we want to be good people only if we are good people. Having good friends can be good advisors for us and go to good advice, not those who are wealthier than us, the important thing is that they can give us advice.
Next, we should practice the fourth skill, which is Samjitna, continuously.
4: Samjitna (The Endowment Of Balanced Livelihood): The equation of life that must be careful at all times (not boasting, not boasting) to do something according to one's ability. For example: someone sees a new, modern car and wants to drive the same car as them, even though they are not able to buy it, and borrows money from them to buy it. This is an act that should not be done, which leads to debt.
Therefore, "Currently, it is seen that young people are lacking in the four dhammas, so if you want to have a lot of money, be dharma-oriented, only develop these four dhammas."
He said that those of you who want to become high and big businessmen should have an advisor and we must work hard to have the right work rules so that we can become truly rich. Otherwise, we will only work hard and save our wealth and have nothing to go forward. He said this: "A good advisor may not have more money than us, or less money than us, but he has better ideas than us, has higher knowledge than us, knows more reasons than us, and can show us the way that is worthy of respect and follow."
Therefore, if you want to do something, you must have a clear campaign and system, and you cannot just sit and think about it. No matter what, you must have a clear and correct plan.
"Knowing these four Pali words will make you a rich businessman"
Of course, each of us wants to have something, and wanting something, no matter how much we want, does not come easily, unless we work hard, persevere, and are frugal.
The principles that make life beneficial, called wealth, are three:
1. The Dhamma view, current benefits or benefits related to daily life, is the primary benefit, the first step, related to work for living, having wealth, reputation, fame, and friends, all are good both for livelihood and for living, with a balance in income and expenses. Especially important is to strive to earn wealth through righteous work.
• Work hard in work • Keep what you have earned • Associate with good people • Live a life according to the right.
The teacher, the king, came and preached the punishment
of a person who does things that should be done first, taking them as the last, and preached this verse:
Udāna kālamhi ឣnutthahano yuvā pāli ឣalsīyam ឣupetō samsānnāsangkāppāmāno ឣkosīto ឣpānaya māgṭha ឣlṣo n vinti.
A person who is young, strong, but lazy, does not make an effort when he should make an effort, has thoughts in his mind that are immersed in the unwholesome life, is a lazy person. A lazy person does not encounter the path of wisdom.
These four aspects of Dhamma are the basis for solving life's problems and are a big step towards progress. I would like to emphasize that the first principle of benefit in Buddhism is to be diligent in doing business, so that wealth corresponds to the primary economic principle of PRODUCTION, as mentioned.We talked about it in advance because economics was just born after Buddhism for a thousand years. It is estimated that the second pillar is knowing how to save the wealth that has been earned, which corresponds to the pillar of saving or saving wealth (SAVING). The third pillar is knowing how to make friends, be honest, be wise, and have a mind to help each other. This pillar is like an association, or a community or a cooperative, which needs to select individuals with high ideals among its members to manage or lead the community as a group of governors or a board of directors within the framework of developing the livelihood of its members by taking into account the common good. The last pillar is using and spending wealth to a level that is appropriate to one's status or just living. In economic terms, the word HOUSEHOLD BUDGET is used, which means that this family budget is a private budget. If it is a state budget, it is called THE NATIONS ECONOMY BUDGET, which means that the economic budget of the nation. In short, it is about controlling income and expenditure to ensure a balance in accordance with Buddhism, which is the essence of life as stated in the Dhamma (present benefit). As for other teachings such as avoiding all kinds of loss of wealth (unpleasantness), knowing what is the happiness of the household, and making the family stable for a long time, all of these are another economy that must be combined with morality. In this regard, Buddhism clearly sees that human morality is very difficult to achieve if the personal economy of each person does not progress or does not act in a dignified manner. For this reason, the Buddha taught to emphasize the state economy and the family economy in the framework of building a position, namely, how to make the state and private economy at a high or medium level as much as possible. To understand quickly, the reader should review a story in our Buddhist scriptures that relates that one day the Buddha instructed a Brahmin who had asked him about the issue of sacrifice. The Buddha did not give an answer to this question, but he took the opportunity to enlighten the Brahmin in the context of his question, saying, You yourself are a person who has the function of managing and maintaining the Brahmins in a country with many villages and districts. You are a person whom all the Brahmins recognize, recognize the advice of the father. You must manage the economy of this country properly, achieve high development, stability and at a good level before you can do anything else. Brahmin! The program to eradicate theft should not be carried out by imposing any punishment or even killing, because all these actions are ineffective, they do not stop people from committing theft. Why? Because other wicked people take their place, and they commit theft again. But if they manage the economy well, people will get jobs according to their abilities and knowledge. At the same time, there must be a plan to help farmers, merchants, and government officials to live comfortably in their businesses, and then your country will be in peace and prosperity. The Buddha taught about economics and morality as mentioned above. We can answer the accusation that Buddhism teaches people to be lazy, to live by the help of deities, to sleep in adventures, etc. Buddhism does not teach this, not even a single word. Furthermore, in some cases, the Buddha expressed the virtues of doing certain types of business, such as trading, by clearly stating that if a trader himself practices the three virtues, he will definitely have a high profit. However, rapid progress can only be achieved if the economist or businessman has three more characteristics.
(The Business of Buddhism)
The characteristics of a businessman who can quickly achieve success and become a millionaire in the world must have three things
Three tips that young businessmen must maintain for their business life in doing business in a righteous way. It is also a very important issue for people's daily lives. How to do business must also be studied and understood clearly when entering this field. Here are some quick tips to help young businessmen:
The Buddha showed three characteristics of doing business to become wealthy and rich with many loved ones to avoid some views that the Buddha only taught people about karma, results, merit and demerit, so most of his followers were poor. In some cases, the Buddha expressed the virtues in doing business, such as selling, clearly stating that if the seller has three virtues, they will definitely get high profits. The lessons taught by the Buddha to make their business run smoothly, the layman should apply the direction of the three virtues:1. Panchachakhu is a person with intelligence, a person with good eyesight or bright eyes, especially one who knows the rules of economics and commerce, that is, one knows how to sell and buy in order to make a lot of money. More specifically, one knows how to be skilled in business, how to make a profit, how to lose money, and knows the times, such as knowing the seasons of each occupation. Knowing the places to sell, namely where it is sold at a high price, where it is sold at a low price, and knowing the needs of the people in each place. What do you need to buy? What should you buy? Give them what they need, and so on. Being a person with intelligence is the intelligence in selling and buying, knowing how to make a loss and how to make a profit, knowing the times, knowing the seasons of each occupation, knowing the markets for selling, such as where it is sold at a high price, where it is sold at a low price, knowing the needs of the people in each place, what goods should you take and sell according to their needs, etc. Tip: Young businessmen must have wisdom and vision: For experienced businessmen, business is no secret, but for those who are just starting out in new businesses, it is necessary to have wisdom in the field of investment, sales, buying and selling, knowing the time, knowing the place, knowing the needs of customers, knowing the rules of business economics, being skilled in business, knowing the time and weather clearly, that is, knowing the things of selling, buying and producing, how to make a lot of money. In particular, you must know the opportunities in doing business, that is, knowing the places to sell, this place sells high, that place sells low, and knowing the needs of people in each place, what they need to find that product to meet their needs.
2. Behavior: A person who is diligent, who does the work he is doing without delaying the time of the business and the needs of the buyer. A person who has a technical mind, is smart, such as buying things in a cheap place and selling them in a high-priced place. Hard work, perseverance, is to work hard to do the work he is doing, that is, not being lazy, not letting it be spoiled beyond the needs of the buyer. Note: Young businessmen must be diligent. That means that young businessmen must be diligent in the work they are doing, not wasting time on business and missing out on customer needs, but rather as businessmen who have market research to develop themselves. Those who do the work they are doing without delaying the time of their business and the needs of their customers are considered to be technically minded and intelligent, such as buying things at a low price and selling them at a high price. This does not mean that doing this kind of business is morally wrong, but it is a type of business that understands the geographical location of the people's economic income.
3. Sanatho is a person who has many needs, a person who is loved by many people, has many friends, how to make people from all walks of life feel discouraged, has faith, and is trustworthy until he dares to fight to the death together. He is skilled in contacting many customers. Wherever he goes, he is always loved, loved, knows how to make himself loved and trusted by others, and is friendly. If he has these three qualities, he will always bring wealth to those who follow him at all times. These three business concepts will be useful to the general public in their work to earn a living through righteousness. Note: Young businessmen must be very reliable. In a sense, you must be skilled in making many friends, going to places where people are respected. As a person who is respected by many people, you must also be a person who knows how to make people from all walks of life feel confident and have confidence in yourself.
Businessmen's Commentary In the past, there was a story about a wealthy man who picked up a dead rat and sold it to a cat breeder for 1 kakanika. He saved it up as capital and traded it until he had a fortune of 2 hundred thousand kahabanas. Finally, he became a wealthy man. Because the effort to save has consequences, the Buddha said: Apaṇeṇeṇeṇa, vaṇa There is a Buddhist proverb that says: "The merchant, who has three qualities, is one who has a clear eye, one who is diligent, one who is rich with a dependent, and one who will soon become rich with wealth."
An economist or businessman must have three qualities:
1- A clear eye, one who has a clear eye.
2- A person who is diligent, one who is diligent.
3- A person who is rich with many dependents.
The first one, which is “having insight,” is to be wise. The reason for wisdom is threefold: listening, thinking, and growing. Those who want to earn money through trading or business must listen carefully to the explanations and advice of businessmen, paying attention to them, so that they can learn the techniques of trading in advance, such as knowing the price of goods, etc. They must study in a business school or study in the home of a businessman who has been proficient for a long time. When they have listened and learned as they have been told, wisdom arises. This is called wisdom arising from listening and learning. The thinking is that a trader or businessman must think carefully and find the reasons for trading clearly to understand whether there is a profit or a loss. If they do not think for themselves, they must ask those who have lost their business first. Then they can act according to the ancient proverb, “Think carefully and act wisely.” Whatever they do, they must think carefully and act wisely. When they think carefully and act wisely, wisdom arises. This is called wisdom born of thinking. As for progress, it is done repeatedly. If you do it occasionally, it is not called progress. Only when you do it many times, many times, or repeatedly, can you call it progress? Do it and do it again until you get used to it. If you have done it repeatedly, it will tell you to understand it gradually. The previous one is a model for the next one. Just like someone who has been doing a business for a long time, wisdom always comes to their mind, allowing them to know other businesses in order. You who have never done it, you will always be confused and not wise in business. Even those who have learned to master the skills in business schools, but if you have not done it, you will not know everything. Only when you have done it often can you understand more and more. This is called wisdom born of progress. A businessman who listens, learns, and progresses as mentioned above will always find a wide range of wealth. They are people with good eyes or bright eyes, with good knowledge in business, knowing capital, knowing costs. Especially knowing the rules of economics and trade.
In the second person, which is "one who has great diligence", that is, a merchant or businessman must be diligent.Manage work at home and outside the home. Trying to manage work at home means trying to control the list, trying to control all the things that are for sale, trying to find ways to organize the house so that the outside is clean, so that it is arranged in a unique and unique way, so that travelers or shoppers can see it from a distance and want to walk closer and look at it again. Try to arrange less things so that they can see them, more in a good way, don't just put them in random places. If there are many houses with the same vendors, try to write signs or post notices to let people know so that they can quickly recognize your name and the name of your goods. This is work at home. Trying to manage work outside the home means trying to find different goods from other places that are popular with the public to sell in large quantities, in many different ways, or anything that is unique if it is perceived to be popular with the public, such as the first ripe fruit or the first goods to arrive, etc., also try to find and store them in the house first. Merchants who are diligent as mentioned above will quickly accumulate vast wealth. They are people who are diligent, have a broad mind, are able to survey, consider, and analyze circumstances. They have technical ideas, are extraordinarily intelligent, and know how to do business, such as knowing where to buy things at a low price and where to sell them at a high price. Especially if they make a lot of profit, they do not forget the spirit of losing capital, they are not willing to give up or be discouraged.
The third element, which is “Be rich with many people, have many dependents,” is that a businessman must find people who are wealthy, have many friends, and have many close friends, so that it will be easy, because all of them will help to promote, help start, help provide resources as capital, help provide support in times of various kinds of events. Be a person who has soft words, sweet and pleasant, friendly, and kind to people who come to you or to others. Do not act arrogantly or arrogantly, so that you will be loved and appreciated by others. Be a person who has a good moral character, is honest, and does not become a person who has a bad reputation by playing various games, gambling, etc. Be a person who spends his wealth in moderation, does not spend too much, does not waste too much, so that those who have a lot of wealth will dare to help, start with various things, help with capital, etc. A businessman who has many dependents will grow his wealth quickly. He is a person who is loved by many people, even friends, knows how to make people in all walks of life feel loved, have faith, gain trust, and even struggle for profit together. Whether you work in the fields, farms, businesses, wages, government jobs, or even a trade, you will be able to grow your wealth and become wealthy because of your hard work and intelligence as mentioned earlier. That is why there is a Buddhist proverb: “Udhata Vinte Thanam, the rich will always have wealth.” This Buddhist proverb is in line with the ancient Khmer proverb: “Knowing from learning, there is wealth, poverty from laziness.” Teach the way of business or learn in the home of a businessman who has been practicing for a long time. When you listen to what is said, wisdom arises. This is called wisdom arising from listening to learning. The thinking is that a marketer or businessman must think carefully and find the reason for trading clearly, to understand whether there is a profit, a loss, or a loss. If you don't see it yourself, you should ask those who have lost their business before you decide to act. As the ancient proverb says, "Think before you act." No matter what, you must think about the loss and profit before you act. When you think and think like this, wisdom arises. This is called wisdom arising from thinking. As for progress, it is to do it often. If you do it occasionally, it is not called progress. Only when you do it many times, many times, or do it often, is it called progress? Do it and do it again until you get used to it. If you have done it often, it will tell you to understand gradually. The previous one is an example for the next one. Like someone who has been doing a business for a long time, wisdom always comes to your mind, so that you can know other businesses in order. You who have never done it, you will always be confused and not wise in business. Even those who have learned to master the skills in business schools, because if you have not done it before, you will not know everything. Only when you have done it often will you understand more and more. This is called wisdom born of progress. A businessman who listens, learns, and progresses as mentioned above will always find a wide range of wealth.The city of Rajagaha was a very important place for trade during the Buddha's time because it was rich in many kings and wealthy people, to the point that cart marks remain to this day.
🌿☘️Economics ☘️🍀
🌿The city of Rajagaha was a city with a flourishing trade until there were many wealthy people, called Rajagaha, a great city rich in wealth.
🌿In that time, trade used carts pulled by animals until there were deep cart marks carved into the rock at the foot of Mount Udya, the southern gate of the city.
🌿Anathapindika, the wealthy man, brought hundreds of carts of goods from Savatthi to sell in the city of Rajagaha regularly until he met the Buddha at Sitavan near the city and achieved enlightenment during his first visit to him.
🍀🍀🍀The great rich man of Rajagaha🍀🍀
🍀1- Jotika Sethi The rich man had a 7-story temple with 7 windows. The temple had a 7-story wall, with a kapok tree growing along the wall all around, and had great treasures, as well as a wife named Satulkaya, who was a deva from the northern Kuru continent.
Jotika Sethi obtained these treasures because the monks built a temple for the Buddha Vipassi.
Later, the rich man prayed to the Blessed One, and soon he achieved the fruit of arahantship, becoming a unique person in the world.
🍀2- Jadila Sethi had a mountain of gold about 80 cubits high, rising from the ground behind his house. This was the fruit of offering gold flowers to the stupa where the Buddha's relics were buried. Later, he took the vows, and in just 2-3 days, he became an arahant.
🍀3- Mendaka Sethi has golden goats as big as elephants, as big as oxen, growing behind his house in an area of ​​about 8 karisas around, etc. These are the results of building 4 golden goats to support the feet of the Dhamma-asana, 2 more golden goats to support the feet of the floor, and 6 other golden goats to surround the center, etc. in the Vipassana Buddhist religion.
Mendaka Sethi is a Sotābān, who has the support of the religion with 4 conditions.
🍀4- Punna Sethi, who earned money from plowing the fields for Suman Sethi, got all the gold pieces. The king brought him to the kingdom, he was 80 cubits tall, which is the largest amount of gold pieces in the kingdom. The king appointed him as a Sethi named Puthuthana Sethi.
This is the result of the present merit, having offered alms to Sāriputta, who had just come out of Nirvāsamabha.
Having become a wealthy man, he also offered alms to the monks headed by the Buddha for 7 days, listened to the Dhamma of the Blessed One, and achieved the fruit of the Sotapatti with his wife and daughter named Uttara.
🍀5-Kakavalliya the wealthy man had 7 large pits of wealth. This is the fruit of the merit that he gave to the Mahakassapatra who had just come out of Nirodhasamapatti.
🪷In the Atthakatha Ettakka of Visakhamika Mata, it is stated that in the kingdom of King Bimbisara, there were 5 people who had innumerable wealth: 1 Jotika, 1 Jadila, 1 Mendaka, 1 Punna, and 1 Kakkavalliya.
Sunday, 1st day of the month of Mikasa, year of the Rat
Chasaka, Buddhist Era 2568
Corresponding to 1 December 2024

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